Flatrock Motorclub GasGas
Factory Racing's Jordan Ashburn
grabbed the holeshot ahead of
Phoenix Honda Racing's Mike Wit-
kowski at the start of this year's
race,
although Russell was quickly
into the lead ahead of Ashburn,
Witkowski and Girroir less than
three miles into the race.
Girroir was on a mission and
steadily worked his way up and
around Russell to take the lead on
lap two. For the next three laps, it
was pretty much the Girroir/Rus
-
sell show.
Russell
retook the lead when
Girroir chose to pit at the end
of the second lap, while Russell
rode by, opting to pit at the end of
lap four, obviously on a one-stop
strategy for the six-lap race.
Girroir did, indeed, retake
the lead when Russell pitted
for fuel at the end of lap two.
From there, Girroir began to
pull a gap over Russell. He
needed a gap so he would still
have the lead when he took his
second pit stop.
Girroir pitted again at the end of
lap four and exited the pits about
27 seconds ahead of Russell,
with FMF KTM Factory Racing's
Ben Kelley in third and Snodgrass
Husqvarna's Lyndon Snodgrass
in fourth. Phoenix Honda Racing's
Mike Witkowski held down fifth.
Girroir and Russell, who were
comfortably ahead of Kelley in
third, sprinted over the course of
the final two laps, with Russell
starting to move within striking
distance of Girroir on the final
started off smooth and was just
riding behind the guys. Me and
Kailub got out front, and he put in
a hot lap, and I pitted right before
that and sprinted on him. He
then pitted, and I put in a hot lap
and kind of stretched it back out
because I had to pit twice. I got a
little lead, and he chopped it right
down to eight seconds going to
the last lap when I tucked the
front end and flipped over. When
I got up, I gave it everything."
In the past, Russell has made
it known that he hates losing
more than he likes winning, but
understanding his situation, the
VOLUME 62 ISSUE 9 MARCH 4, 2025 P39
(Left) Kailub
Russell was back
up to speed in
his second race
back after a four-
year hiatus. He
finished second
on the AmPro
Yamaha. (Right)
Grant Davis won
the XC2 class.
lap and, at one point, was only 15
seconds behind the KTM rider.
Drama came when Girroir tucked
the front end with two miles to go
on the final lap, giving him just an
8.2-second advantage over Russell
when he took the checkers. Russell
was an impressive second, with
Kelley rounding out the box.
Girroir's impressive sprint while
Russell pitted was perhaps the
pivotal part of the race. "It was a
dogfight, for sure," said Girroir. "I
eight-time GNCC champ was
pleased with second.
"I'm so happy to be up on the
box and perform like that," said
Russell. "Honestly, I was a little
nervous coming into today. My
winter has been absolutely ter
-
rible—little injuries plus setback
after
setback, and things just
stacking up. But the one thing I
never stopped doing was I kept
showing up and working my butt
off on the bicycle in the gym. I
